Outlook is bleak for Scots access to justice as planned reforms appear overtaken by time. AS the sands of time continue to devour what have so far turned out to be many false promises of a new dawn for Scots justice in the 2009 Civil Courts Review, a new quango in the form of the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) has been created to take on functions from two decades-old bureaucratic, lawyer-dominated Court Service quangos responsible for much of the current mess of Scotland’s courts and which did little for Scots access to justice over the past few years.
Unsurprisingly, recruitment for the new Scottish Civil Justice Council is to include a heavy mix of lawyers, advocates and “suitable individuals who may be appointed at the Lord President’s discretion” (also known as the old tap-on-the-shoulder job offer). Applications for the positions on offer will end noon tomorrow on Monday 15 April, with interviews being held in early May and successful candidates attending the first Council meeting, on Monday 10 June 2013.
Among the mix of lawyers and other vested interests being sought to run the new quango, there will be only two “Consumer representatives” sought for Scottish Civil Justice Council, which will take on the rule drafting functions of the Court of Session Rules Council (established in its current form by Section 8 of the Court of Session Act 1988) and the Sheriff Court Rules Council (established in its current form by Section 33 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971).
In addition to its rule drafting functions, the SCJC will have a remit to provide advice and make recommendations to the Lord President and the Scottish Ministers on the development of the civil justice system, which was heavily criticised in the 2009 Civil Courts Review report authored by the now current Lord President Lord Gill , who condemned Scotland’s justice system as being “Victorian” and unfit for society. In 2013, it still is.
Vested Interests sought for Justice Quango : Recruitment of Members for Scottish Civil Justice Council
Advocate, solicitor, consumer representative and LP members 6 to 12 appointments available
The Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) will be established in May 2013 when the Scottish Government brings into force the relevant provisions of The Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013. The first meeting of the SCJC is due to take place on 10 June 2013.
The SCJC will take on the rule drafting functions of the Court of Session and Sheriff Court Rules Councils and in addition will have a remit to provide advice and make recommendations to the Lord President and the Scottish Ministers on the development of the civil justice system. The SCJC will in particular be responsible in its early years for implementing the procedural changes to effect the reforms contained in The Scottish Government’s forthcoming Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill, currently being consulted on.
The Lord President is seeking to appoint a minimum of 2 advocates, 2 solicitors and 2 consumer representatives to the Council, and up to 6 LP members (suitable individuals who may be appointed at the Lord President’s discretion). A summary of the overall membership can be viewed here.
* Members should expect approximately 12 days’ commitment a year and, among other matters, will:
* Develop draft rules for the Court of Session and sheriff court civil proceedings;
* Advise and make recommendations to the Lord President on the development of the civil justice system;
* Develop the SCJC annual programme and report;
* Take into account the needs of court users and potential court users; and
* Co-operate with others in the justice system.
Successful candidates will meet one or more of the criteria in the following areas: legal knowledge and skills; understanding of people and society; knowledge and understanding of the wider justice system and issues affecting it; and personal qualities.
The Lord President is committed to the principles of appointment on merit and to the well-informed choice of individuals who, through their abilities, experience and qualities match the requirement of the post. Further details as to eligibility and selection criteria are set out in the Lord President’s Statement of Appointment Practice and candidate information forms.
To apply, please download a copy of the application form and submit it with an equal opportunities monitoring form to scjc@scotcourts.gov.uk. For further information please contact Ondine Tennant at scjc@scotcourts.gov.uk / Scottish Civil Justice Council (Appointments), Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ / 0131 240 6769.
“suitable individuals who may be appointed at the Lord President’s discretion”
ReplyDeletepffft Here we go again!
No surprise there will be lawyers on this new quango but as you say they have a vested interest in what goes on in courts so anything that speeds up justice or access to it will end up in the bin or at least be put on the back burner for a couple more decades.
ReplyDeleteJobs for the boys again?
"Take into account the needs of court users and potential court users"
ReplyDeleteWhat makes anyone think they can do this,have the motivation or will be allowed to do any better than the Sheriff Court/Court of Session Rules Councils?
Sounds like a bunch of window dressing to me and paid for by taxpayers I assume.What a racket!
"Co-operate with others in the justice system."
As in keeping down the natives and keeping us out of their courts unless we pay the extortion racket legal system to represent us and charge for their services in blood when the money runs out.
You are in the Sunday Mail today along with Lord Gill about him refusing to go to the parliament and I can tell you he really comes across as a bit of a twit arguing against your register of interests petition.
ReplyDeletekeep up the good work!
A red robed dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteThese Judges and lawyers are quite simply the scum of the earth. I have no faith in politicians or the judiciary, self serving maggots.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for independence Alex Salmond is quite right to go to Margaret Thatcher's funeral. On that night of infamy in 1979, 11 SNP MPs marched into the division lobby side by side with the Tories to bring down a Labour government in full knowledge of what would follow. They were midwives to the birth of Thatcherism. Who would grudge them a seat at the funeral?
Another round of publicly funded jobs for lawyers,their lovers, their relatives and other hangers on.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of Scotland's "Banana Republic" legal profession in action.
ReplyDeleteLord Gill is nothing more than a poacher turned gamekeeper - now vigourously defending and protecting the status quo.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt his 2009 report was just a 'shot across the bows' warning others just what kind of trouble he could make if not offered the top job - albeit at the second time of asking.
The Lord President's new absurd project to try to trick the Scottish Public into believing that there is the thinnest veneer of respectability with this deliberately corrupt quango?
ReplyDeleteHe forgot to refer prospective applicants to the small print...?
Those who are NOT 'YES MEN' need not apply (as this is just another tool to make the Public think that the judicial system in Scotland is fit for purpose and not corrupt?
I imagine all the lawyers and their associates/families/pet poodles were falling over themselves just before 12 noon to get their papers in and take part in this new carve up of the courts.
ReplyDeleteSick isn't it! and we all know exactly what is happening only thanks to DOI and the team!
What is happening to our country?
ReplyDeleteHow can these criminals manage to steal our country from underneath us?
Well done all of the DOI Team for bringing this horrible incestuous corruption into the public domain?
ReplyDeleteYou are all great servants of Scotland.......more than I can say for the dodgy Gill and his mob?